08/03/2026
🦟Kansans are currently at HIGH risk of being bitten by West Nile Virus carrying mosquitoes. Most people don't develop any symptoms, but when they do symptoms can range from mild flu-like illness with fever, headache, body aches, rash, vomiting and diarrhea, to severe illness. Some people develop neurological infection, causing brain damage and even death. Each year, dozens of Kansans develop neuroinvasive West Nile virus disease. Preventing mosquito bites prevents disease.
🟠DRESS: Wear long sleeved, loose-fitting shirts and pants. Avoid the outdoors at dusk and dawn. Keep window and door screens in good repair. Use mosquito netting on strollers and playpens.
🟠DRAIN: Mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water. Eliminate mosquito breeding habitats by tipping and tossing standing water at least twice a week. Empty water from buckets, tires, tarps, toys and other containers. Refresh bird baths and pet water bowls every three days. Keep wading pools empty when not in use and drill drainage holes on tire swings. Check for hidden water sources like clogged gutters and plant saucers. If you have a pond, consider stocking mosquito-eating fish. Treat standing water that can't be drained with appropriate larvicides.
🟠DEET: Use EPA-registered repellents. Apply permethrin to clothing and gear. Store insect repellents safely out of reach of children.
🔗Check out KDHE's West Nile Virus (WNV) risk level in your area. It is updated on Fridays during mosquito surveillance season (June to October): https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/1519/West-Nile-Virus
🔗KDHE's West Nile Virus Dashboard: https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/1937/West-Nile-Virus-Data
🔗EPA-registered repellents: https://www.epa.gov/insect-repellents
🔗Learn more about mosquito bite prevention: https://www.cdc.gov/west-nile-virus/prevention/index.html
